Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II lens : Nikon has designed a new ultra-compact AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II lens as the ideal companion for use with its DX format digital SLRs. The lens, using the popular 18-55mm focal length range, has been specially developed to provide a compact DX zoom equipped with Nikon's compact SWM (Silent Wave Motor) and will be included as standard with the latest Nikon D40 digital SLR outfits. Incorporating cutting-edge Nikon optical technologies such as ED glass and aspherical lens elements, Nikon D40 customers will enjoy superior image quality made possible by legendary Nikkor optics. The AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II will be launched from December 2006.

Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm lens : Olympus Imaging Corporation announces the introduction of the Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 40–150mm F4.0–5.6, a new Designed-for-Digital telephoto zoom lens for FourThirds System DSLR cameras. The new lens is scheduled to go on sale in Japan on November 23, 2006. Zuiko Digital interchangeable lenses are specifically designed to maximize the performance potential of the image sensors in FourThirds System digital SLR cameras. The newly announced Olympus Digital ED 40-150mm is a lightweight, ultra-compact telephoto zoom lens that offers outstanding value. A non-rotating mount ensures that filters do not rotate when the lens is focused, making it much easier to shoot when using polarizing filters.

CBL professional white balance lens : CBL White Balance Lenses are a new range of 3 double sided hand held discs which facilitate the accurate measurement of neutral colour balance by reflecting the light falling onto your subject into your lens in order to take a white balance reading. This system differs from many available products in that it is allowing you to take an “Incident” reading from the light source itself to calculate colour balance, giving highly accurate results in all situations, even where the subject has a particular dominant colour. The product materials are also waterproof and the colour characteristics will not change over time giving consistent and accurate results.

Leica D SUMMILUX 25mm f1.4 ASPH lens : During our meeting with Suguru Takamatsu, Coordinator Marketing Team Overseas Sales & Marketing Group and Ichiro Kitao, Product Planning Manager, from Panasonic we had a little hands-on with the new Leica D SUMMILUX 25mm f1.4 ASPH lens. The new Leica lens incorporates a large total large total of 10 lens elements in 9 groups, including a large-diameter aspherical lens. The bright standard f/1.4 lens provides a superb high-quality optical performance. The large diameter front lens ensures sufficient peripheral light levels, and a large-diameter front aspherical lens reduces light degradation all the way to the lens periphery. The result is high resolution and absolutely minimum lens distortion.

Zeiss ZF lenses : At the Photokina Zeiss announced four new Zeiss ZF lenses for the Nikon F Mount. Showcased behind glass, and we almost missed them, two new wide-angle lenses with Nikon F Mount. The new Distagon T* 2/35 ZF and the Distagon T* 2,8/25 cover full 35mm frame and can be used on both analog and digital SLRs. The Zeiss Distagon T* 2/35 ZF is a versatile all-round lens with moderate wide-angle coverage and high speed, a classical standard for photojournalistic work. Due to its high performance this lens can capture very detailed scenes with high accuracy and information content. The Zeiss Distagon T* 2,8/25 is a lens with pronounced wide-angle characteristics. It excels in dynamic architecture, landscape, and travel photography.

Sigma APO 300-800mm F5.6 EX DG HSM lens : Sigma launched a new Four-Thirds system compatible, large aperture ultra-telephoto zoom lens; Sigma APO 300-800mm F5.6 EX DG HSM. This Sigma lens covers the equivalent field of view to 600mm to 1600mm when used on Four-Thirds cameras. By continuously varying the angle of view, the lens takes a lot of the footwork out of picture composition. The very latest lens coating technology and lens design reduce flare and ghosting, a common problem with digital cameras. Two ELD glass elements in the front lens group reduce chromatic aberration to a minimum and also ensure high optimum image quality. The overall length of the lens does not change during focusing and zooming, ensuring convenient handling.

Sigma APO 135-400mm F4.5-5.6 lens : Sigma launched today a new Four-Thirds system compatible, compact telephoto zoom lens; Sigma APO 135-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG. This telephoto zoom lens gives the equivalent field of view to our popular 800mm when used on Four-Thirds cameras. The very latest lens coating technology and lens design reduce flare and ghosting, a common problem with digital cameras. This lens uses one aspherical lens and three Special Low Dispersion (SLD) glass elements for excellent correction of various aberrations. The rear focusing system ensures fast focusing speed as well as preventing the front of the lens rotating, making it particularly suitable for use with circular polarizing filters.

Sigma 24mm F1.8 EX DG Aspherical Macro lens : Sigma launched a new Four-Thirds system compatible, large aperture wide-angle lens; Sigma 24mm F1.8 EX DG Aspherical Macro. This F1.8 wide-angle lens has a minimum focusing distance of 18cm (7.1”) and a maximum magnification of 1:2.7. Two aspherical lenses ensure the utmost correction of distortion and aberrations. The floating focus system provides high optical performance from 18cm to infinity. The Dual Focus (DF) system makes the lens easy to hold and eliminates focus ring rotation during auto-focusing, making the lens particularly suitable for accepting the petal-type lens hood. The introduction of this new lens increases Sigma's lens line-up for Four Thirds mount to a total of eleven models. With Four Thirds cameras, the focal length will be equivalent to 48mm.